Grandsons In the Wood Shop

Each year, on one or more occasions, 2 grandsons from St. Louis spend a few days with me in my wood shop in Central California. This year, 11 y/o Andrew [aka AJ] and his 18 y/o brother, Jonathan, spent five nice warm days in the wood shop. [Warm…100 F + each day. But no complains from either]

This year, AJ want to make ‘Lots of Cutting Boards’ to give to special people back home. He decided to use Hard Rock Maple and some lightly figured Cherry for accent. He wanted both ‘bread-board’ ends and plain ends.

He gang glued in the big glue press and then trimmed to length using the chop saw, with Grandad watching closely. Then he installed some ends with blind dowels. Then off to the big sander, and next to the hand sander. All of the boards received ‘Wooden’ nails. AJ started with over-sized dowels, which he turned down to fit the 5/16” drill bit in the Davis Wells horizontal drill press. Vacation time ran out, so Grandad applied the several coats of mineral oil, boxed them and sent them to St. Louis.

While in the shop, AJ made a few pens on the lathe, as well as two AW-sum marshmallow catapults. He took the catapults to his cousins b-day party where everyone had a fun. Even the dog enjoyed, who manage to eat several marshmallows before he could be stopped.

awesome! these are such critical skills…and as a TEACHER…I find that woodworking’s most powerful “skill” that is acquired is the ability to PROBLEM SOLVE…something sooooo lacking in today’s curriculum.